Electrophotographic photoconductors and [2,2]paracyclophane compounds for use in the same

ABSTRACT

An electrophotographic photoconductor is disclosed, which comprises an electroconductive support and a photoconductive layer formed thereon comprising as an effective component at least one [2,2]paracyclophane compound formula (I): ##STR1## wherein R 1  and R 2  independently represent an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, or an aryl group which may have a substituent; R 3  and R 4  each represent hydrogen, an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, an alkoxyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, or a halogen; and m is an integer of 1 to 3, and n is an integer of 1 to 4, and R 3  and R 4  may be the same or different when m and n are both 2 or more. Furthermore, novel [2,2]paracyclophane compounds for use in the electrophotographic photoconductor and methods of producing the same are disclosed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to electrophotographic photoconductors, and more particularly to electrophotographic photoconductors comprising an electroconductive support and a photoconductive layer comprising at least one [2,2]para-cyclophane compounds, and [2,2]paracyclophane compounds which can be used as photoconductive materials in the photoconductor.

2. Discussion of Background

Conventionally, inorganic materials such as selenium, cadmium sulfide and zinc oxide are used as photoconductive materials of an electrophotographic photoconductor in the electrophotographic process. The above-mentioned electrophotographic process is one of the image forming processes, through which the surface of the photoconductor is charged uniformly in the dark to a predetermined polarity, for instance, by corona charge. The uniformly charged photoconductor is exposed to a light image to selectively dissipate the electrical charge of the exposed areas, so that a latent electrostatic image is formed on the photoconductor. The thus formed latent electrostatic image is developed by a developer comprising a coloring agent such as a dye and a pigment, and a binder agent such as a polymeric material, to a visible image.

Fundamental characteristics required for the photoconductor in such an electrophotographic process are: (11) chargeability to an appropriate potential in the dark, (2) minimum dissipation of electrical charge in the dark, and (3) rapid dissipation of electrical charge when exposed to the light.

However, while the above-mentioned inorganic materials have many advantages, they have several shortcomings form the viewpoint of practical use.

For instance, a selenium photoconductor, which is widely used at present, satisfies the above-mentioned requirements (1) to (3) completely, but it has the shortcomings that its manufacturing conditions are difficult, and accordingly its production cost is high. In addition, it is difficult to work it into the form of a belt due to its poor flexibility, and it is so vulnerable to heat and mechanical shocks that it must be handled with the utmost care.

A cadmium sulfide photoconductor and a zinc oxide photoconductor can be easily obtained by coating a dispersion of cadmium sulfide particles and zinc oxide particles in a binder resin on a support. However, they are poor in mechanical properties, such as surface smoothness, hardness, tensile strength and wear resistance. Therefore, they cannot be used in the repeated operation, as they are.

To solve the above-mentioned problems of the inorganic materials, various electrophotographic photoconductors employing organic materials are proposed recently and some are still put to practical use. For example, there are known a photoconductor comprising poly-N-vinylcarbazole and 2,4,7-trinitrofluorene-9-on, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,484,237; a photoconductor prepared by sensitizing poly-N-vinylcarbazole with a pigment of pyrylium salt, as described in Japanese Patent Publication 48-25658; a photoconductor comprising as the main component an organic pigment, as described in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application 47-37543; a photoconductor comprising as the main component an eutectic crystal complex of a dye and a resin, as described in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application 47-10735; a photoconductor prepared by sensitizing a triphenylamine compound with a sensitizer pigment, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,180,730; and a photoconductor comprising poly-N-vinylcarbazole and an amine derivative as a charge transporting material, as described in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application 58-1155.

These electrophotographic photoconductors have their own excellent characteristics and considered to be valuable for practical use. With various requirements of the electrophotographic photoconductor in electrophotography taken into consideration, however, the above-mentioned conventional electrophotographic photoconductors cannot meet all the requirements.

In U.S. Pat. No. 3,265,496, Japanese Patent Publication 39-11546 and Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application 53-27033, polyfunctional tertiary amine compounds, in particular benzidine compounds among them, are considered to be excellent as photoconductive materials for use in the electrophotographic photoconductor. However, these compounds have the shortcomings that the solubility in a binder resin is poor and they are easily crystallized in a photoconductive layer. To remove the above shortcomings, it is proposed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application 62-112164 that the above benzidine compound be used together with other low-molecular weight compounds in the photoconductive layer to minimize the crystallization of the benzidine compound.

Furthermore, 4-N,N-dimethylamino[2,2]paracyclophane is conventionally known as a [2,2]paracyclophane compound containing a tertiary amino group as reported in J. Am. Chem. Soc. , 80, p.3115(1958), but it does not sufficiently function as a photoconductive material.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore a first object of the present invention to provide an electrophotographic photoconductor having good durability, free from the conventional shortcomings, which can completely satisfy all the requirements in the electrophotographic process, and can be easily manufactured at relatively low cost.

A second object of the present invention is to provide a charge transporting material for use in the abovementioned electrophotographic photoconductor.

A third object of the present invention is to provide novel [2,2]paracyclophane compounds used as photoconductive materials in the electrophotographic photoconductor.

A fourth object of the present invention is to provide a method of producing the above [2,2]paracyclophane compounds.

The first object of the present invention can be achieved by an electrophotographic photoconductor comprising an electroconductive support and a photoconductive layer formed thereon comprising as an effective component at least one [2,2[paracyclophane compound represented by the following formula (I): ##STR2## wherein R¹ and R² independently represent an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms which may have a substituent, or an aryl group which may have a substituent; R³ and R⁴ each represent hydrogen, an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, an alkoxyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms or a halogen; and m is an integer of 1 to 3, and n is an integer of 1 to 4, and R³ and R⁴ may be the same or different when both m and n are 2 or more.

The second object of the present invention can be attained by a charge transporting material for use in the electrophotographic photoconductor, which comprises a [2,2]paracyclophane compound having the above-mentioned formula (I).

The third object of the present invention can be attained by a [2,2]paracyclophane compound having formula (II): ##STR3## wherein R¹ and R² each represent an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, or an aryl group, which may have a substituent, and R¹ and R² may be the same or different, provided that both R¹ and R² cannot be a methyl group at the same time.

The fourth object of the present invention is attained by allowing 4-amino[2,2]paracyclophane compound having formula (III) to react with a halide of formula (IV), as shown in the following reaction scheme: ##STR4## wherein R¹ and R² are the same as those defined in the above formula (I); and X represent halogen.

Alternatively, the fourth object of the present invention is attained by allowing a halogenated [2,2]paracyclophane of formula (V) to react with an amino compound of formula (VI), as shown in the following reaction scheme: ##STR5##

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete appreciation of the invention and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an IR spectrum of an [2,2]paracyclophane compound according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a first example of an electrophotographic photoconductor according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a second example of an electrophotographic photoconductor according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a third example of an electrophotographic photoconductor according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a fourth example of an electrophotographic photoconductor according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a fifth example of an electrophotographic photoconductor according to the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a sixth example of a electrophotographic photoconductor according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

According to the present invention, an electrophotographic photoconductor comprising an electroconductive support and a photoconductive layer formed thereon, which photoconductive layer comprises at least one [2,2]paracyclophane compound of formula (I) is provided. ##STR6## wherein R¹ and R², independently represent an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, or an aryl group which may have a substituent; R³ and R⁴ each represent hydrogen, an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, an alkoxyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, or a halogen; and m is an integer of 1 to 3, and n is an integer of 1 to 4, and R³ and R⁴ may be the same or different when both m and n are 2 or more.

Examples of the substituent of the alkyl group represented by R¹ or R² include a phenyl group and a phenyl group having an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms or an alkoxyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms.

Examples of the substituent of the only group represented by R¹ or R² include an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms; an alkoxyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms; and a phenyl group which may have as a substituent an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, an alkoxyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, a dialkyl amino group, each alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, or a phenoxy group.

Examples of the above-mentioned [2,2]paracyclophane compounds of formula (I) are as follows:

                                      TABLE 1                                      __________________________________________________________________________     Compound No.                                                                           R.sup.1          R.sup.2          R.sup.3 R.sup.4                      __________________________________________________________________________      1      CH.sub.3         CH.sub.3         CH.sub.3                                                                               H                             2      CH.sub.3         C.sub.2 H.sub.5  H       H                             3      C.sub.2 H.sub.5  C.sub.2 H.sub.5  H       H                             4      C.sub.3 H.sub.7  C.sub.3 H.sub.7  H       H                             5      CH.sub.3                                                                                         ##STR7##        H       H                             6      CH.sub.3                                                                                         ##STR8##        H       H                             7                                                                                      ##STR9##                                                                                        ##STR10##       H       H                             8                                                                                      ##STR11##                                                                                       ##STR12##       H       H                             9                                                                                      ##STR13##                                                                                       ##STR14##       H       H                            10                                                                                      ##STR15##                                                                                       ##STR16##       H       H                            11                                                                                      ##STR17##                                                                                       ##STR18##       H       H                            12                                                                                      ##STR19##                                                                                       ##STR20##       H       H                            13                                                                                      ##STR21##                                                                                       ##STR22##       H       H                            14                                                                                      ##STR23##                                                                                       ##STR24##       H       H                            15                                                                                      ##STR25##                                                                                       ##STR26##       H       H                            16                                                                                      ##STR27##                                                                                       ##STR28##       H       H                            17                                                                                      ##STR29##                                                                                       ##STR30##       H       H                            18                                                                                      ##STR31##                                                                                       ##STR32##       H       H                            19                                                                                      ##STR33##                                                                                       ##STR34##       H       H                            20                                                                                      ##STR35##                                                                                       ##STR36##       H       H                            21                                                                                      ##STR37##                                                                                       ##STR38##       H       H                            22                                                                                      ##STR39##                                                                                       ##STR40##       H       H                            23                                                                                      ##STR41##                                                                                       ##STR42##       H       H                            24                                                                                      ##STR43##                                                                                       ##STR44##       H       H                            25                                                                                      ##STR45##                                                                                       ##STR46##       H       H                            26                                                                                      ##STR47##                                                                                       ##STR48##       H       H                            27                                                                                      ##STR49##                                                                                       ##STR50##       H       H                            28                                                                                      ##STR51##                                                                                       ##STR52##       H       H                            29                                                                                      ##STR53##                                                                                       ##STR54##       H       H                            30                                                                                      ##STR55##                                                                                       ##STR56##       H       H                            31                                                                                      ##STR57##                                                                                       ##STR58##       H       H                            32                                                                                      ##STR59##                                                                                       ##STR60##       H       H                            33                                                                                      ##STR61##                                                                                       ##STR62##       H       H                            34                                                                                      ##STR63##                                                                                       ##STR64##       H       12-CH.sub.3                  35                                                                                      ##STR65##                                                                                       ##STR66##       7-CH.sub.3                                                                             12-CH.sub.3                  36                                                                                      ##STR67##                                                                                       ##STR68##       H       12-OCH.sub.3                 37                                                                                      ##STR69##                                                                                       ##STR70##       7-CH.sub.3                                                                             H                            38                                                                                      ##STR71##                                                                                       ##STR72##       7-Cl    H                            39                                                                                      ##STR73##                                                                                       ##STR74##       H       12,15-(CH.sub.3).sub.2       40                                                                                      ##STR75##                                                                                       ##STR76##       5,8-(CH.sub.3).sub.2                                                                   H                            41                                                                                      ##STR77##                                                                                       ##STR78##       5,8-(CH.sub.3).sub.2                                                                   12-OCH.sub.3                 42                                                                                      ##STR79##                                                                                       ##STR80##       5-OCH.sub.3, 7-CH.sub.3                                                                12-CH.sub.3                  __________________________________________________________________________

The [2,2]paracyclophane compounds of formula (II) can be obtained by allowing 4-amino[2,2]paracyclophane compound having formula (III) to react with a halide of formula (IV), as shown in the following reaction scheme: ##STR81## wherein R¹ and, R² are the same as those defined in the formula (I); and X represents a halogen.

Alternatively, the above-mentioned [2,2]paracyclophane compounds of formula (II) can be obtained by allowing a halogenated [2,2]paracyclophane compound of formula (V) to react with an amino compound of formula (VI), as shown in the following reaction scheme: ##STR82## wherein R¹ and, R² are the same as those defined in the formula (I); and X represents a halogen.

More specifically, [2,2]paracyclophane compounds of formula (II) according to the present invention can be obtained by allowing 4-amino[2,2]paracyclophane of formula (III) to react with a halid of formula (IV), or allowing halogenated [2,2]paracyclophane of formula (V) to react with an amine compound of formula (VI) in a solvent at room temperature to about 100° C., in the presence of a basic catalyst. The above reactions can also be carried out at temperatures of about 150 to 250° C. in a stream of nitrogen, in a solvent or without any solvent, with the addition thereto of a copper powder, copper oxide or copper halogenide, and an alkaline salt or an alkaline material in a sufficient amount to neutralize hydrogen halogenide generated in the course of condensation reaction.

In the case where the above reaction is carried out in a solvent in the presence of a basic catalyst, sodium hydroxide, sodium amide and sodium bicarbonate can be used as the basic catalyst. Examples of the reaction solvents employed in this reaction are dioxane, tetrahydrofuran, toluene, xylene, N,N-dimethylformamide, ethanol and methanol.

When the reaction is carried out using a alkaline salt or an alkaline material to the reaction mixture, alkaline materials such as sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide and alkaline salts such as sodium carbonate and potassium carbonate can be employed. Examples of the reaction solvents employed in this reaction are nitrobenzene, dichlorobenzene, quinoline, N, N-dimethylformamide, dimethyl sulfoxide, N-methylpyrrolidone, and 1,3-dimethyl-2-imidazolidinone.

The above-mentioned [2,2]paracyclophane compounds for use in the present invention, which are remarkably effective as photoconductive materials in the electrophotographic photoconductor, are optically or chemically sensitized with a sensitizer such as a dye or Lewis acid. In addition, the [2,2]paracyclophane compounds effectively function as charge transporting materials in a function-separating type electrophotographic photoconductor where an organic or inorganic pigment serves as a charge generating material.

In the photoconductors according to the present invention, at least one [2,2]paracyclophane compound of formula (I) is contained in the photoconductive layers 2, 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d and 2e. The [2,2]paracyclophane compounds can be employed in different ways, for example, as shown in FIGS. 2 through 7.

In the photoconductor as shown in FIG. 2, a photo-conductive layer 2 is formed on an electroconductive support 1, which photoconductive layer 2 comprises a [2,2]paracyclophane compound, a sensitizing dye and a binder agent (binder resin). In this photoconductor, the [2,2]paracyclophane compound works as a photoconductive material, through which charge carriers which are necessary for the light decay of the photoconductor are generated and transported. However, the [2,2]paracyclophane compound itself scarcely absorbs light in the visible light range and, therefore, it is necessary to add a sensitizing dye which absorbs light in the visible light range in order to form latent electrostatic images by use of visible light.

Referring to FIG. 3, there is shown an enlarged cross-sectional view of another embodiment of an electrophotographic photoconductor according to the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 1 indicates an electro-conductive support. On the electroconductive support 1, there is formed a photoconductive layer 2a comprising a charge generating material 3 dispersed in a charge transporting medium 4 comprising a [2,2]paracyclophane compound and a binder agent. In this embodiment, the [2,2]paracyclophane compound and the binder agent (or a mixture of the binder agent and a plasticizer) constitute the charge transporting medium 4 in combination. The charge generating material 3, which is, for example, an inorganic or organic pigment, generates charge carriers. The charge transporting medium 4 accepts the charge carriers generated by the charge generating material 3 and transports those charge carriers.

In this electrophotographic photoconductor, it is basically necessary that the light-absorption wavelength regions of the charge generating material 3 and the [2,2]paracyclophane compound not overlap in the visible light range. This is because, in order that the charge generating material 3 produce charge carriers efficiently, it is necessary that light pass through the charge transporting medium 4 and reach the surface of the charge generating material 3. Since the [2,2]paracyclophane compounds of the previously described general formula (I) do not substantially absorb light in the visible range, they can work effectively as charge transporting materials in combination with the charge generating material 3 which absorbs the light in the visible region and generates charge carriers.

Referring to FIG. 4, there is shown an enlarged cross-sectional view of a further embodiment of an electrophotographic photoconductor according to the present invention. In the figure, there is formed on an electroconductive support 1 a two-layered photoconductive layer 2b comprising a charge generation layer 5 containing a charge generating material 3, and a charge transport layer 4 containing a [2,2]paracyclophane compound of the previously described formula (I).

In this photoconductor, light which has passed through the charge transport layer 4 reaches the charge generation layer 5, and charge carriers are generated within the charge generation layer 5. The charge carriers which are necessary for the light decay for latent electrostatic image formation are generated by the charge generating material 3, accepted and transported by the charge transport layer 4. In the charge transport layer 4, the [2,2]paracyclophane compound mainly works for transporting charge carriers. The generation and transportation of the charge carriers are performed by the same mechanism as that in the photoconductor shown in FIG. 3.

In an electrophotographic photoconductor shown in FIG. 5, a charge generation layer 5 is formed on a charge transport layer 4 containing a [2,2]paracyclophane compound in a photoconductive layer 2c, thus the overlaying order of the charge generation layer 5 and the charge transport layer 4 is reversed as compared with the electrophotographic photoconductor as shown in FIG. 4. The mechanism of the generation and transportation of charge carriers is substantially the same as that of the photoconductor shown in FIG. 4.

In the above photoconductor, a protective layer 6 may be formed on the charge generation layer 5 as shown in FIG. 6 for protecting the charge generation layer 5.

When the electrophotographic photoconductor according to the present invention as shown in FIG. 2 is prepared, at least one [2,2]paracyclophane compound of the previously described formula (I) is dispersed in a binder resin solution, and a sensitizing dye is then added to the mixture, so that a photoconductive layer coating liquid is prepared. The thus prepared photoconductive layer coating liquid is coated on an electroconductive support 1 and dried, so that a photoconductive layer 2 is formed on the electroconductive support 1.

It is preferable that the thickness of the photoconductive layer 2 be in the range of 3 to 50 μm, more preferably in the range of 5 to 20 μm. It is preferable that the amount of the [2,2]paracyclophane compound contained in the photoconductive layer 2 be in the range or 30 to 70 wt. %, more preferably about 50 wt. %.

It is preferable that the amount of the sensitizing dye contained in the photoconductive layer 2 be in the range of 0.1 to 5 wt. %, more preferably in the range of 0.5 to 3 wt. %.

Specific examples of the sensitizing dye for use in the present invention are: triarylmethane dyes such as Brilliant Green, Victoria Blue B, Methyl Violet, Crystal Violet and Acid Violet 6B; xanthene dyes such as Rhodamine B, Rhodamine 6G, Rhodamine G Extra, Eosin S, Erythrosin, Rose Bengale and Fluoresceine; thiazine dyes such as Methylene Blue; cyanine dyes such as cyanin; and pyrylium dyes such as 2,6-diphenyl-4-(N,N-dimethylaminophenyl)thiapyrylium perchlorate and benzopyrylium salts (Japanese Patent Publication 48-25658).

These sensitizing dyes may be used alone o in combination.

The electrophotographic photoconductor shown in FIG. 3 can be obtained by dispersing finely-divided particles of the charge generating material 3 in a solution in which at least one [2,2]paracyclophane compound for use in the present invention and the binder agent are dissolved, coating the above-prepared dispersion on the electro-conductive support 1 and then drying the same to form the photoconductive layer 2a.

It is preferable that the thickness of the photoconductive conductive layer 2a be in the range of 3 to 50 μm, more preferably in the range of 5 to 20 μm. It is preferable that the amount of the [2,2]paracyclophane compound contained in the photoconductive layer 2a be in the range of 10 to 95 wt. %, more preferably in the range of 30 to 90 wt. %.

It is preferable that the amount of the charge generating material 3 contained in the photoconductive layer 2a be in the range of 0.1 to 50 wt. %, more preferably in the range of 1 to 20 wt. %.

Specific examples of the charge generating material 3 for use in the present invention are as follows: inorganic pigments such as selenium, selenium - tellurium, cadmium sulfide, cadmium sulfide - selenium and α-silicone; and organic pigments, such as C.I. Pigment Blue 25 (C.I. 21180), C.I. Pigment Red 41 (C.I. 21200), C.I. Acid Red 52 (C.I. 45100), and C.I. Basic Red 3 (C.I. 45210); an azo pigment having a carbazole skeleton (Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application 53-95033), an azo pigment having a distyryl benzene skeleton (Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application 53-133445), an azo pigment having a triphenylamine skeleton (Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application 53-132347), an azo pigment having a dibenzothiophene skeleton (Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application 54-21728), an azo pigment having an oxadiazole skeleton (Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application 54-12742), an azo pigment having a fluorenone skeleton (Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application 54-22834), an azo pigment having a bisstilbene skeleton (Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application 54-17733), an azo pigment having a distyryl oxadiazole skeleton (Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application 54-2129), and an azo pigment having a distyryl carbazole skeleton (Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application 54-14967); a phthalocyanine pigment such as C.I. Pigment Blue 16 (C.I. 74100); indigo pigments such as C.I. Vat Brown 5 (C.I. 73410) and C.I. Vat Dye (C.I. 73030); and perylene pigments such as Algol Scarlet B and Indanthrene Scarlet R (made by Bayer Co., Ltd.). These charge generating materials may be used alone or in combination.

The electrophotographic photoconductor shown in FIG. 4 can be obtained as follows:

The charge generating material is vacuum-deposited on the electroconductive support 1, or the dispersion in which finely-divided particles of the charge generating material 3 are dispersed in an appropriate solvent together with the binder agent when necessary is coated on the electroconductive support 1 and dried, so that the charge generation layer 5 is formed. When necessary, the charge generation layer 5 is subjected to buffing to adjust the thickness thereof. On the thus formed charge generation layer 5, the coating solution in which at least one [2,2]paracyclophane compound and the binder agent are dissolved is coated and dried, so that the charge transport layer 4 is formed. In the charge generation layer 5, the same charge generating material as employed in the above-mentioned photoconductive layer 2a can be used.

The thickness of the charge generation layer 5 is 5 μm or less, more preferably 2 μm or less. It is preferable that the thickness of the charge transport layer 4 be in the range of 3 to 50 μm, more preferably in the range of 5 to 20 μm. When the charge generation layer 5 is obtained by coating the dispersion in which finely-divided particles of the charge generating material 3 are dispersed in an appropriate solvent together with the binder agent, it is preferable that the amount of finely-divided particles of the charge generating material 3 contained in the charge generation layer 5 be in the range of 10 to 95 wt. %, more preferably in the range of about 50 to 90 wt. %. It is preferable that the amount of the [2,2]paracyclophane compound contained in the charge transport layer 4 be in the range of 10 to 95 wt. %, more preferably in the range of 30 to 90 wt. %.

The electrophotographic photoconductor shown in FIG. 5 can be obtained as follows:

The coating solution in which the [2,2]paracyclophane compound and the binder agent are dissolved is coated on the electroconductive support 1 and dried to form the charge transport layer 4. On the thus formed charge transport layer 4, the dispersion prepared by dispersing finely-divided particles of the charge generating material 3 in the solvent, in which the binder agent is dissolved when necessary, is coated by spray coating and dried to form the charge generation layer 5 on the charge transport layer 4. The amount ratio of components contained in the charge generation layer and charge transport layer is the same as previously described in FIG. 4.

The electrophotographic photoconductor shown in FIG. 6 can be obtained by forming a protective layer 6 on the charge generation layer 5 as obtained in FIG. 5 by spray-coating of an appropriate resin solution. As the resins employed in the protective layer 6, the binder agents to be described later can be used.

An electrophotographic photoconductor with a structure as shown in FIG. 7 may also be employed in the present invention, which can be obtained by forming a charge transport layer 4a, a charge generation layer 5, and a charge transport layer 4b successively in that order on an electroconductive support 1, in which either the charge transport layer 4a or the charge transport layer 4b comprises at least one [2,2]paracyclophane compound and the other charge transport layer comprises a Lewis acid type charge transporting material, for example, fluorenone compounds such as trichlorofluorenone and quinone derivatives.

Specific examples of the electroconductive support for the electrophotographic photoconductor according to the present invention include a metallic plate or foil made of aluminum, a plastic film on which a metal such as aluminum is deposited, and a sheet of paper which has been treated so as to be electroconductive.

Specific examples of the binder agent for use in the present invention are condensation resins such as polyamide, polyurethane, polyester, epoxy resin, polyketone and polycarbonate; and vinyl copolymers such as polyvinylketone, polystyrene, poly-N-vinylcarbazole and polyacrylamide. All the resins having insulating properties and adhesive force can be employed. Some plasticizers may be added to the above-mentioned binder agent, when necessary. Examples of the plasticizer for use in the present invention are halogenated paraffin, polybiphenyl chloride, dimethylnaphthalene and dibutyl phthalate.

Furthermore, in the electrophotographic photoconductors according to the present invention, an adhesive layer or barrier layer may be interposed between the electroconductive support and the photoconductive layer when necessary. Examples of the material for use in the adhesive layer or barrier layer are polyamide, nitrocellulose and aluminum oxide. It is preferable that the thickness of the adhesive layer or barrier layer be 1 μm or less.

When copying is performed by use of the photoconductors according to the present invention, the surface of the photoconductor is charged uniformly in the dark to a predetermined polarity. The uniformly charged photoconductor is exposed to a light image so that a latent electrostatic image is formed on the photoconductor. The thus formed latent electrostatic image is developed by a developer to a visible image, and when necessary, the developed image can be transferred to a sheet of paper. The electrophotographic photoconductors according to the present invention have the advantages in that the photosensitivity is high and the flexibility is improved.

Other features of this invention will become apparent in the course of the following description of exemplary embodiments, which are given for illustration of the invention and are not intended to be limiting thereof.

SYNTHESIS EXAMPLE 1 Preparation of 4-N,N-bis(4-methylphenyl)amino[2,2]-paracyclophane (Compound No. 12 in Table 1)

A mixture of 2.40 g (10.7 mmol) of 4-amino[2,2]paracyclophane, 25.44 g (116.7 mmol) of 4-iodotoluene, 4.45 g of potassium carbonate and 1.20 g of copper powder was refluxed at 211° C. for 16 hours, with stirring in a stream of nitrogen. After the completion of the reflux, the mixture was cooled to room temperature and filtered through Celite. The filtrate was extracted with toluene, washed with water, dried over magnesium sulfate, and further concentrated under reduced pressure. Thus, a brown-red oil-like product was obtained. The thus obtained product was isolated from the reaction mixture by column chromatography using a silica gel and a mixed solvent of n-hexane and toluene serving as a developing solvent, and recrystallized from ethanol, so that 0.47 g of 4-N,N-bis(4-methylphenyl)amino[2,2]paracyclophane was obtained as colorless needles in a 10.8% yield. The melting point was 140.0 to 141.0° C.

The results of the elemental analysis of the thus obtained product were as follows:

    ______________________________________                                                   % C        % H    % N                                                ______________________________________                                         Calculated  89.29        7.24   3.47                                           Found       89.16        7.33   3.20                                           ______________________________________                                    

The above calculation was based on the formula for 4-N,N-bis(4-methylphenyl)amino[2,2]paracyclophane of C₃₀ H₂₉ N.

FIG. 1 shows an infrared spectrum of 4-N,N-bis(4-methylphenyl)amino[2,2]paracyclophane, taken by use of a KBr tablet.

EXAMPLE 1

76 parts by weight of Diane Blue (C.I. Pigment Blue 25, CI21180) serving as a charge generating material, 1260 parts by weight of a 2% tetrahydrofuran solution of a polyester resin (Trademark "Vylon 200" made by Toyobo Company, Ltd.) and 3700 parts by weight of tetrahydrofuran were dispersed and ground in a ball mill. The thus prepared dispersion was coated on an aluminum surface of an aluminum-deposited polyester film by a doctor blade, and dried at room temperature, so that a charge generation layer having a thickness of about 1 μm was formed on the aluminum-deposited polyester film.

1 part by weight of 4-N,N-bis(4-methylphenyl)amino[2,2]paracyclophane ([2,2]paracyclophane compound No. 12 in Table 1) prepared in the above-mentioned Synthesis Example 1, 1 part by weight of polycarbonate resin (Trademark "Panlite K-1300" made by Teijin Limited.) and 8 parts by weight of tetrahydrofuran were mixed to form a solution. This solution was coated on the above formed charge generation layer by a doctor blade and then dried at 80° C. for 2 minutes and then at 120° C. for 5 minutes, so that a charge transport layer having a thickness of about 20 μm was formed on the charge generation layer. Thus a two-layered type electrophotographic photoconductor No. 1 according to the present invention was prepared.

EXAMPLES 2 to 27

The procedure for Example 1 was repeated except that Diane Blue serving as a charge generating material and the [2,2]paracyclophane compound No. 12 serving as a charge transporting material employed in Example 1 were replaced by the respective charge generating materials and charge transporting materials listed in the following Table 2, whereby two-layered type electrophotographic photoconductors No. 2 to No. 27 according to the present invention were prepared

    TABLE 2       Photo-  (2,2)Paracyclophane Conductor No. Charge Generating Material      Compound No.       1      ##STR83##       12       2      ##STR84##       12       3      ##STR85##       12  (hereinafter referred to as P-1)       4      ##STR86##       12       5      ##STR87##       12  (hereinafter referred to as P-2)       6      ##STR88##       12       7 β                                                           type      Copper Phthalocyanine 12       8      ##STR89##       10       9      ##STR90##       10  10 P-1 10 11 P-2 10 12 P-1 20 13 P-2 20 14 P-1  3 15 P-2  3 16 P-1      25 17 P-2 25 18 P-1 29 19 P-2 29 20 P-1 33 21 P-2 33 22 P-1 11 23 P-2 11      24 P-1  7 25 P-2       7 26 P-1 34 27 P-2 34

EXAMPLE 28

Selenium was vacuum-deposited on an aluminum plate having a thickness of about 300 μm, so that a charge generation layer having a thickness of about 1 μm was formed on the aluminum plate.

2 parts by weight of [2,2]paracyclophane compound No. 10 in Table 1, 3 parts by weight of polyester resin (Trademark "Polyester Adhesive 49000" made by Du Pont de Nemours, E.I. & Co.) and 45 parts by weight of tetrahydrofuran were mixed to form a solution. This solution was coated on the above formed charge generation layer by a doctor blade, dried at room temperature, and then dried having a thickness of about 10 μm was formed on the charge generation layer. Thus a two-layered type electrophotographic photoconductor No. 28 according to the present invention was prepared.

EXAMPLE 29

A perylene pigment having the following formula was vacuum-deposited on an aluminum plate having a thickness of about 300 μm, so that a charge generation layer having a thickness of about 0.6 μm was formed on the aluminum plate: ##STR91##

2 parts by weight of [2,2]paracyclophane compound No. 10 in Table 1, 3 parts by weight of polyester resin (Trademark "Polyester Adhesive 49000" made by Du Pont de Nemours, E.I. & Co.) and 45 parts by weight of tetrahydrofuran were mixed to form a solution. This solution was coated on the above formed charge generation layer by a doctor blade, dried at room temperature, and then dried under reduced pressure, so that a charge transport layer having a thickness of about 10 μm was formed on the charge generation layer. Thus a two-layered type electrophotographic photoconductor No. 29 according to the present invention was prepared.

EXAMPLE 30

A mixture of 1 part by weight of the same Diane Blue as employed in Example 1 and 158 parts by weight of tetrahydrofuran was dispersed and ground in a ball mill to form a dispersion. To the thus formed dispersion, 12 parts by weight of [2,2]paracyclophane compound No. 10 in Table 1 and 18 parts by weight of polyester resin (Trademark "Polyester Adhesive 49000" made by Du Pont de Nemours, E.I. & Co.) were added to form a solution. This solution was coated on an aluminum-deposited polyester film by a doctor blade, and dried at 100° C. for 30 minutes, so that a photoconductive layer having a thickness of about 16 μm was formed on the electroconductive support. Thus, an electrophotographic photoconductor No. 30 was prepared.

EXAMPLE 31

1 part by weight of [2,2]paracyclophane compound No. 12 in Table 1, 1 part by weight of polycarbonate resin (Trademark "Panlite K-1300" made by Teijin Limited.) and 8 parts by weight of tetrahydrofuran were mixed to form a solution. This solution was coated on an aluminum-deposited polyester film by a doctor blade and then dried at 80° C. for 2 minutes and then at 120° C. for 5 minutes, so that a charge transport layer having a thickness of about 20 μm was formed on the aluminum-deposited polyester film.

A mixture of 13.5 parts by weight of bisazo pigment (P-2), 5.4 parts by weight of polyvinyl butyral (Trademark "XYHL" made by Union Carbide Japan K.K.), 680 parts by weight of tetrahydrofuran and 1020 parts by weight of ethyl cellosolve was dispersed and ground in a ball mill. To this dispersion, 1700 parts by weight of ethyl cellosolve was further added to form a solution. This solution was coated on the above formed charge transport layer by spray coating and dried at 100° C. for 10 minutes, so that a charge generation layer having a thickness of about 0.2 μm was formed on the charge transport layer.

A mixed solution of methanol and n-butanol containing a polamide resin (Trademark "CM-8000" made by Toray Silicone Co., Ltd.) was coated on the above formed charge generation layer by spray coating and dried at 120° C. for 30 minutes, so that a protective layer having a thickness of about 0.5 μm was formed on the charge generation layer. Thus, a two-layered type electrophotographic photoconductor No. 31 was prepared.

Each of the thus prepared electrophotographic photoconductors No. 1 through No. 31 according to the present invention was charged negatively or positively in the dark under application of -6 kV or +6 kV of corona charge for 20 seconds, using a commerically available electrostatic copying sheet testing apparatus ("Paper Analyzer Model SP-428" made by Kawaguchi Electro Works Co., Ltd.). Then, each electrophotographic photoconductor was allowed to stand in the dark for 20 seconds without applying any charge thereto, and the surface potential Vpo (V) of the photoconductor was measured. The photoconductor was then illuminated by a tungsten lamp in such a manner that the illuminance on the illuminated surface of the photoconductor was 4.5 lux, and the exposure E_(1/2) (lux·sec) required to reduce the initial surface potential Vo (V) to 1/2 the initial surface potential Vpo (V) was measured. The results are shown in Table 3.

                  TABLE 3                                                          ______________________________________                                         Photoconductor No.                                                                              Vpo (V)  E.sub.1/2  (lux · sec)                      ______________________________________                                          1               -1110    1.79                                                  2               -1220    1.68                                                  3               -1310    1.15                                                  4               -1014    1.85                                                  5               -1212    1.10                                                  6               -1010    1.20                                                  7                -980    2.00                                                  8               -1205    1.84                                                  9               -1250    1.75                                                 10               -1150    1.24                                                 11               -1215    1.18                                                 12               -1063    1.14                                                 13                -965    1.05                                                 14                -863    2.01                                                 15                -654    1.92                                                 16               -1310    1.16                                                 17               -1292    1.04                                                 18               -1305    1.12                                                 19               -1224    0.98                                                 20               -1291    1.18                                                 21               -1160    1.11                                                 22               -1294    1.20                                                 23               -1254    1.15                                                 24               -1415    1.50                                                 25               -1312    1.40                                                 26               -1294    1.24                                                 27               -1192    1.15                                                 28                -956    2.11                                                 29               -1340    3.68                                                 30               +1420    2.88                                                 31               +1298    1.15                                                 ______________________________________                                    

Each of the above-mentioned electrophotographic photoconductors according to the present invention was incorporated in a commercially available electrophotographic copying machine and charged negatively or positively. Then it was exposed to the light through an original to form a latent electrostatic image on the surface of the photoconductor. The thus formed latent electrostatic image was developed by a dry-type developer to a visible image. The thus obtained visible image was transferred to a sheet of plain paper and fixed thereon, so that a clear transferred image was formed. In the case where a wet-type developer was employed, a clear image was formed likewise. The electrophotographic photoconductor according to the present invention comprises a photoconductive layer comprising at least one [2,2]paracyclophane compound serving as a charge transporting material. As a result, the resistance to heat and mechanical shocks of the photoconductor can be improved as well as the photoconductive properties thereof, and further the photoconductor according to the present invention can be manufactured at relatively low cost. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An electrophotographic photoconductor comprising an electroconductive support and a photoconductive layer formed thereon comprising as an effective component at least one [2,2]paracyclophane compound of formula (I): ##STR92## wherein R¹ and R² independently represent an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, or an aryl group which may have a substituent; R³ and R⁴ each represent hydrogen, an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having 1 to 4 atoms, or a halogen; and m is an integer of 1 to 3, and n is an integer of 1 to 4, and R³ and R⁴ may be the same or different when m and n are both 2 or more and a binder agent.
 2. The electrophotographic photoconductor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said [2,2]paracyclophane compound is a paracyclophane compound having formula (II): ##STR93## wherein R¹ and R² independently represent an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, or an aryl group which may have a substituent, provided that R¹ and R² may not be a methyl group at the same time.
 3. The electrophotographic photoconductor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said photoconductive layer comprises a charge generating material and a charge transporting medium comprising said [2,2]paracyclophane compound and a binder agent, in which said charge generating material is dispersed.
 4. The electrophotographic photoconductor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said photoconductive layer comprises a charge generation layer containing a charge generating material, and a charge transport layer containing said 2,2]paracyclophane compound as a charge transporting material.
 5. The electrophotographic photoconductor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the amount of said [2,2]paracyclophane compound is in the range of 30 to 70 wt. % of the entire weight of said photoconductive layer.
 6. The electrophotographic photoconductor as claimed in claim 3, wherein the amount of said [2,2]paracyclophane compound is in the range of 10 wt. % to 95 wt. % of the entire weight of said photoconductive layer, and the amount of the said charge generating material is in the range of 0.1 wt. % to 50 wt. % of the entire weight of said photoconductive layer.
 7. The electrophotographic photoconductor as claimed in claim 4, wherein the amount of the said charge generating material is in the range of 10 wt. % to 95 wt. % of the entire weight of said charge generation layer, and the amount of said [2,2]paracyclophane compound is in the range of 10 wt. % layer.
 8. A charge transporting layer for use in an electrophotographic element comprising a binder agent and a [2,2]paracyclophane compound having formula (I): ##STR94## wherein R¹ and R² independently represent an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, or an aryl group which may have a substituent; R³ and R⁴ each represent hydrogen, an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, an alkoxyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, or a halogen; and m is an integer of 1 to 3, and n is an integer of 1 to 4, and R³ and R⁴ may be the same or different when m and n are both 2 or more.
 9. The charge transporting layer as claimed in claim 8, wherein said [2,2]paracyclophane compound is a paracyclophane compound having formula (II): ##STR95## wherein R¹ and R² ; independently represent an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, or an aryl group which may have a substituent, provided that R¹ and R² may not be a methyl group at the same time. 